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Tense   /tɛns/   Listen
Tense

adjective
1.
In or of a state of physical or nervous tension.
2.
Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in 'beat').
3.
Taut or rigid; stretched tight.
noun
1.
A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time.
verb
1.
Become stretched or tense or taut.  Synonym: strain.  "The rope strained when the weight was attached"
2.
Increase the tension on.  "Tense the rope manually before tensing the spring"
3.
Become tense, nervous, or uneasy.  Synonym: tense up.
4.
Cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious.  Synonyms: strain, tense up.



Related searches:
tense system
tense up
continuous tense
future perfect tense
future progressive tense
future tense
imperfect tense
past perfect tense
past progressive tense
past tense
perfect tense
perfective tense
pluperfect tense
present perfect tense
present progressive tense
present tense
progressive tense
tenseness


WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University


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"Tense" Quotes from Famous Books



... little speech, so full of apparent good will, brought a quick flush of contrition to Mary's cheeks. She experienced a swift spasm of regret for her bitter suspicion of Marjorie. Her tense face softened. Why not unburden herself to her chum now and find relief from her ...
— Marjorie Dean - High School Sophomore • Pauline Lester
... no stools since the 14th. His Abdomen is tense. No change in the other symptoms. The Tinct. Serpent. was omitted in his draughts, and an equal quantity of Tinct. Rhaei Sp. substituted ...
— Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air • Joseph Priestley
... he heard voices—the voices of children, and toward him came two little girls, followed by a young lady. They drew near. Standing his ground, with muscles tense, Warburton glanced at the young lady's face, and could not doubt that this was Rosamund's sister; the features were much less notable than Rosamund's, but their gentle prettiness made claim of kindred with her. Forthwith he doffed his hat, ...
— Will Warburton • George Gissing
... shiftless one, leaning forward a little, his face showing tense and eager in the glow ...
— The Eyes of the Woods - A story of the Ancient Wilderness • Joseph A. Altsheler
... to see the change which had come over the looks and actions of the company at the mention and appearance of the violin. The faces that had shown indifference and the look of languid weariness freshened and became tense in all their lines; and on their heads again animation sat crowned. Those who were seated jumped to their feet. The conversationalists broke their circle and swung suddenly into line. Eyes sparkled. Little happy screams and miniature war-whoops ...
— How Deacon Tubman and Parson Whitney Kept New Year's - And Other Stories • W. H. H. Murray


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